Pump adaptor

ABSTRACT

A pump adaptor for on-the-go reducing the size of an inlet end of a utility pump having a static immersible one-way valve on an inlet end with the pump adaptor having a constricting band for forming a sealing surface with a portion of a pump barrel located downstream to the immersible one-way valve with the adaptor including a chamber for a static immersible one-way valve to enable reduction in the inlet to the utility pump without reducing the pump stroke capacity and without affecting the normal operation of the static one-way immersible valve.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

None

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

None

REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX

None

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The concept of inexpensive siphon utility pumps for pumping or siphoninga liquid from one location to another is known in the art. One suchpump, which is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 7,726,231, contains a staticimmersible one-way inlet valve located on an inlet end of a pumpcylinder and a plunger having a dynamic one-way valve located in a lumenwithin the pump cylinder. The dynamic one-way valve can be axiallystroked within the lumen through a handle extending through a top end ofthe pump cylinder to draw liquid into and through the pump cylinder.Typically, most or all of the components of the siphon pump are madefrom polymer plastics which provides an inexpensive pump as well as apump that resists oxidation.

The siphon utility pump includes an upper outlet, which is located onthe top end of the pump cylinder or pump barrel with the upper outletconnectable to a flexible hose or the like. As the dynamic one-way valveis stroked back and forth within the pump cylinder it draws liquid intoand through the pump cylinder. That is, during an upstroke of thedynamic one-way valve liquid is directed into and through the cylinderand the upper outlet and when the dynamic one-way valve is stroked inthe opposite direction the dynamic one-way valve opens to allow liquidto pass therethrough while an immersible one-way valve located at theinlet end of the pump remains in a closed condition to prevent liquidfrom back flowing out of the pump cylinder. If the end of the hose,which is attached to upper outlet of the pump cylinder, is located belowa liquid air interface (i.e. the liquid line) of the liquid where thestatic one-way valve is immersed in the liquid can be siphoned from onelocation to another since the two one-way valves of the pump cooperatewith the pump chamber to allow flow from pump inlet to pump outlet. Onthe other the one-way valves prevent back flow from pump outlet to pumpinlet of siphon action is lost.

One of disadvantages of such utility siphon pumps is that the one-waystatic inlet valve needs to be immersed in a liquid i.e. below theliquid line before the liquid can be drawn into the utility pump. As theimmersible one-way inlet valve is located on the inlet end of the pumpand extends radially outward from the pump barrel it limits where thepump may be used. While the external size disadvantage of the immersibleone-way valve does not effect the use of the pump for removing liquidssuch as water from open sources of water it makes it more difficult toremove liquids where the size of the access port to the liquid islimited.

One of the features of the utility siphon pump, which is enjoyed by auser, is the use of a large diameter pump cylinder, typically, adiameter of 2 inches or more which enables the user to quickly drawliquid through the pump and start either a siphon process or a pumpingprocess without excessive stroking. For example, with such a largediameter pump barrel one can remove a gallon of water with four strokesof the pump, which makes it desirable for field use. If the utilitysiphon pump is to be used to remove liquids from a source of water orthe like that has only a small access port the user needs to use asiphon pump with a smaller diameter. However, a smaller diameter pumphas a lesser stroke volume or stroke capacity and requires additionalstrokes to push the same amount of liquid through the pump.

Thus, a pump which has high stroke efficiency or capacity and a largeone-way inlet valve may not be suitable for extracting liquid fromsources where the inlet access port to the source is smaller than theone-way valve on the end of the pump. Since the immersible one-way valveis threadingly mounted on the exterior surface of the pump it precludesthe use of conventional pipe reducers since the reducers would interferewith the operation and placement of the immersible one-way inlet valve.

The invention described herein accommodates multiple uses of a utilitysiphon pump of high stroke efficiency, without adversely impacting theoperation of the static immersible one-way inlet valve. One can accessboth open sources of liquids or sources of liquids where the size of theaccess port is smaller than the one-way valve without having tocompromise the stroke capacity of the pump since the same pump can beused in either application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A hand secureable one piece pump adaptor for reducing the size of a pumpinlet port to a size less than the size of the one-way immersible valvelocated on the inlet end of the utility pump without affecting thestroke capacity of the utility pump. The pump adaptor includes aconstricting band for forming a suction seal with a portion of anexterior surface of the pump barrel, which is located downstream of theimmersible one-way valve. The pump adaptor includes an encapsulationband for extending over and past a one-way valve so as not to adverselyaffect the operation of the one-way valve. An inlet suction port havinga size smaller than the size of the one-way inlet valve can be attachedto the inlet band of the adaptor to permit field use of the pump inlocations where the access port to the liquids are smaller than theone-way immersible valve.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a prior art siphon utility pump in partial cross section;

FIG. 1A shows an end view of a prior art immersible one-way valve;

FIG. 2 is an exploded side view of the immersible one-way valve and theadaptor

FIG. 3 is a front view of the adaptor mounted on the end of a pump;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the adaptor;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the adaptor mounted on the end of a siphonpump taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 shows a top view of the adaptor.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows a partial cross sectional view of a prior art siphonutility pump 10 comprising an elongated pump cylinder or pump barrel 11,an immersible one-way inlet valve 15 and a pump outlet tube 14 whichconnects to one end of a flexible drain hose 13. For convenience intransporting the utility pump the free end of the flexible hose is heldproximate barrel 11 by a friction clip 16. A handle 12, which is axiallydisplaceable with respect to cylinder 11, connects to a pump rod 18,which includes a piston or plunger 17 containing a dynamic one-wayvalve. That is, as the plunger 17 is pushed toward the end of thecylinder containing the immersible one-way inlet valve 15 the dynamicone-way valve in the plunger opens to allow liquid in the pump cylinder11 to flow upward through the plunger. As the plunger is pulled awayfrom the immersible one-way inlet valve 15 the dynamic one-way valve inplunger 17 closes and the liquid is drawn through the immersible one-wayinlet valve 15 and into the pump cylinder or pump barrel 11 of pump 10.Thus, the cooperation of the immersible one-way valve 15 located at theinlet end of the pump barrel 11 and the dynamic one-way valve located onplunger 17 allow one to draw liquid through the immersible one-way valve15 and discharge it from the open end of flexible hose 13 either throughstroking the pump or through a siphon action or both.

FIG. 1A shows an end view of the prior art immersible one-way valve 15revealing a rigid skeleton frame 15 b having a set of pie shaped ports15 a for liquid to enter the pump barrel supporting the one-way valve15. Located on the downstream side of frame 15 b is a resilient diskmember or flap 15 c which flexes to open ports 15 a and allow liquid toflow through ports 15 a and into the pump barrel when a suction force isgenerated on the downstream side of valve 15 by stroking the plunger 17.Flap 15 c remains in a closed condition when there is no suctionpressure downstream of the flap thus preventing liquid from back flowingout of the pump through the one-way valve 15.

FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the end of the pump barrel or pumpcylinder 11 of pump 10 with the immersible one-way inlet valve 15secured to the exterior end surface of the pump barrel 11 through pipethreads, adhesives or other means (not shown). The one-piece pumpadaptor 21 is positioned in axial alignment with the immersible one-wayinlet valve 15 to enable an operator to axially slide adaptor 21 overthe one-way static inlet valve 15 until a constricting band 25 of theadaptor 21 is suctionally sealed to a portion of the outer cylindricalsurface 11 a of pump barrel 11 located downstream of the one-way inletvalve 15. Suctionally sealed is understood to mean that the surface tosurface engagement of an interior surface of the adaptor 21 to theexterior surface 11 a of the pump barrel 11 is such that it preventsfluid leakage therepast or any fluid leakage therepast is insufficientto defeat the suction forces generated by the pump plunger 17 sincedefeat of the suction forces would prevent liquids from being siphonedor pumped through the pump.

In the example shown a friction collar 20 is also located on pump barrel11. Friction collar 20 may be used in the event one wishes to applyadditional compression force to more securely maintain the adaptor 21 ina suction seal on the pump barrel 11. The friction collar 20 is shown incross section in FIG. 5 and includes an internal frusto conical surface20 a which mates with an external frusto conical surface 21 c on pumpadaptor 21 so that downward axial displacement of friction collar 20 onpump barrel 11 radially constricts the constricting band 25 of pumpadaptor 21. However, for most applications the use of a friction collaris unnecessary since a resilient adaptor made from an elastomer cangenerate a constriction force to suctional seal the band 25 to theexterior surface 11 a of pump barrel 11. For example, sufficient sealingforces can be generated by having the internal diameter D₄ of theconstricting band 25 less than the external diameter D₁ of the pumpbarrel. For example, a pump adaptor 21 made from an elastomer such asrubber, is normally sufficient radially contractible to suctionally sealthe adaptor 21 to the exterior surface of the pump barrel. On the otherhand in some cases one may want to use only a collar to form a fluidtight seal to the pump barrel. In such cases various types ofcompression collars may be used.

FIG. 3 shows a front view of a lower end of the pump barrel 11 with oneend of the adaptor 21 resiliently secured to a portion of the exteriorcylindrical surface 11 a of pump barrel 11, which is located downstreamof the immersible one-way valve, and the opposite end to an inlet pipe22 having an external diameter D₇, which is smaller in diameter than theimmersible one-way valve located on the end of the pump barrel 11. Theuse of an inlet pipe which is smaller than the immersible one-way valve15 enables the pump 10 to used in areas where the access port to liquidto be removed is less than the size of the immersible one-way inletvalve or where the liquid to be removed is in a location that is remoteor inaccessible to the pump operator. With use of adaptor 21 the end ofthe pump 10 and the one-way inlet valve thereon need not be locatedbelow the liquid line i.e. the interface between air and the liquid. Inaddition to the resilient securement of the adaptor to the pump barrel11 a a compression collar 20 may be used to further secure the adaptor21 to the pump barrel 11 through application of a radial constrictingforce on the outer exterior surface 21 c of the pump adaptor 21.

FIG. 4 shows a cross sectional isolated view of the one-piece resilientpump adaptor 21 for reducing the size of a siphon pump access inlet to asize less than the external dimensions of the immersible one-way valve,located on the inlet end of the pump. The reduction occurs withoutdecreasing pump stroke capacity, without disrupting the externalconfiguration of the utility pump and allows one to use the pump inconditions where the one-way valve 15 is located above the liquid lineof the liquid being suctioned.

The pump adaptor 21 is preferably made from a resilient elastomer andcan be radially expanded to allow the pump adaptor to be axially slippedover the one-way valve 15 by user hand pressure. FIG. 5 shows the pumpadaptor 21 frictionally and mechanically mounted on the end of pumpbarrel 11 proximate the immersible one-way valve 15. The upper portionof pump adaptor 21 includes a radially elastically stretchable siphonpump constricting band 25 having an annular sealing surface 21 a ofdiameter D₄ for forming a radially constricting suction seal against thelarger diameter exterior cylindrical surface 11 a of pump barrel 11through the resiliency of the material of adaptor 21. By having theinside diameter D₄ of the constricting band 25 less than the outsidediameter D₁ of the pump barrel 11 the resiliency of the constrictingband 25 exerts a radial inward pressure to maintain a suction sealbetween the exterior cylindrical surface of pump barrel 11 and theinterior annular sealing surface 21 a of adaptor 21.

FIG. 4 shows an encapsulation band 24 having a chamber 40 with thechamber therein preferably having a diameter D₅ which larger than boththe internal diameter of the pump constricting band 25 and the diameterD₃ of the static one-way valve 15 as well as a length greater than thelength of the one-way valve 15. The purpose of the encapsulation band 24is to allow one to encapsulate and fluidly isolate the one-way valve 15so that the adaptor 21 will not adversely affect the performance of theone-way valve 15. While the encapsulation band could be made toconstrict to the exterior surface of pump adaptor it is preferred thatfor ease of application and because of the lack of peripheral sealingsurfaces on the one-way valve 15 that the encapsulation band have adiameter equal to or greater than the diameter D₃ of the one-way valve15. The encapsulation band 24 is configured so as to not interfere withthe operation of the one-way valve 15 by providing a fluid chamber 27(FIG. 5) proximate the inlet end of the one-way valve 15 so the inletregion of one-way valve 15 can remain in contact with a liquid i.e. anequivalent of an immersed condition when liquid is being drawn throughpump 10.

FIG. 4 shows an annular lip 21 b that functions to smoothly connect theconstricting band 25 with the encapsulation band 24, however, it canalso function as an axial stop to prevent adaptor 25 from beingaccidentally pulled free from pump barrel 11 since lip 21 b canmechanically engage a top edge 15 a (FIG. 2) of one-way valve 15 if anaxial withdrawal force is applied to adaptor 25.

FIG. 4 illustrates that adaptor 25 includes a further axial stopcomprising a set of axial protrusions 31 for engaging the non-operativeparts of the one valve 15 and an inlet passage 28 which providescontinuous fluid access to a chamber 27 proximate the inlet end of theone-way valve 15. The chamber 27 allows liquid to be drawn into andthrough the one-way valve 15 without interfering with the conventionaloperation of the immersible one-way valve 15 by providing for liquid inthe region proximate the ports 15 a of the one-way valve 15. The loweraxial stop 31, which is shown as set of axial protrusions prevents theadaptor 21 from sliding upwards which would block the ports 15 a ofone-way valve 15. Thus, a feature of the invention is that the pumpadaptor 15 can be mounted on a pump barrel with the pump adaptormaintained in a static axial position on the pump barrel 11 through aconstriction band 25 of the adaptor 21 engaging the pump barrel.Alternatively where axial forces may disrupt a friction engagementbetween the adaptor on the pump barrel the constriction band 25 togetherwith the coaction of the annular axial stop 21 b and the lower axialstop 31 may be used to prevent axial displacement of the pump adaptorwith respect to the pump cylinder.

FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 shows that an inlet band 29 is integral toencapsulation band 21 with inlet band 29 having an external diameter D₆which is less than the internal diameter of the siphon pump constrictingband 25, the pump barrel 11 and the diameter of the one-way valve 15.That is, when the inlet band 29 is used for immersion into a liquid,which is to be suctionally extracted, the inlet band provides for asmaller profile to allow the siphon pump to be used in places where theliquid access ports are too small to accommodate the immersible one-wayvalve 15 on the end of pump 10. To accommodate even smaller access portsa suction pipe 22 of diameter D₇ can be suctionally sealed to inlet band29. If a suction pipe 22 is attached to the inlet band 29 of the pumpadaptor 15 the external diameter D₆ of the inlet band 29 need not have areduced diameter as shown in FIG. 5 since the external diameter D₇ ofthe suction pipe 22 will determine the size of ports that can beaccessed 4. Thus, the one-piece cylindrical siphon pump adaptor 21 mayinclude an elongated suction tube 22 suctionally sealed to the inletband 29 with the elongated suction tube 22 having an outside diameterless than the internal diameter D5 of the encapsulation band 24.

A feature of the use of a separate suction pipe 22 for attachment to thepump adaptor 21 is that the external diameter of the inlet band 29 neednot be smaller than the inside diameter of the encapsulation band 24since suction tubes of different and lesser external diameters may beinterchangeable connected to the inlet band 29 of adaptor 21 throughconventional pipe fittings or the like thus allowing the operator notonly the choice of the size of the external diameter of the suction tubebut to make on-the-go changes of the size of suction tube while at a jobsite.

If desired, in some cases, the portion of the one-piece cylindricalsiphon pump adaptor wherein the elongated tube is suctionally sealablethrough resilient engagement therewith may includes a set of externalbuttresses 38 for stiffing or preventing suction collapse of the inletband during suction of liquids therethrough.

As can be seen in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 pump adaptor 21 may consist of aone-piece resilient member with axially spaced multiple bands with eachof the bands cooperating to quickly allow one to slip the pump adaptor21 over an immersible one-way valve 15 located on the end of a pump 10to reduce the size of the suction inlet to the pump 15 without affectingthe stroke capacity of the pump. In addition, the adaptor 21 allows theexisting one-way valves in the pump 10 to function in therein normalmanner while at the same time providing a siphon pump that can be usedto draw liquids from areas where the access port is normally to smallfor access by the immersible one-way valve located at the inlet end ofpump 10.

Thus the siphon utility pump as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 5 includes apump cylinder 11 having a lower inlet 15 and an upper outlet 14 and alumen 11 b therein. Located in lumen 11 b is an axially slideableplunger 17 having a one-way valve thereon for drawing liquid from theinlet to the outlet of the cylinder.

As shown in the drawings the liquid immersible one-way valve 15 islocated on an inlet end of the pump cylinder 11 to enable a liquid to besuctioned through the liquid immersible one-way valve 15 by axiallystroking the plunger 17 within the cylinder 11. Attached to the lowerend of the pump cylinder 11 is a three part resilient adaptor 21 withthe resilient adaptor 21 having a constricting band 25 sealinglyengaging an exterior cylindrical surface 11 a of cylinder 11, anencapsulation band 24 for encapsulating the liquid immersible one-wayvalve 15, an inlet extension 29 having an outside diameter preferablysmaller than an outside diameter of the liquid immersible one-way valve15 and a suction chamber 27 for suctioning of fluid through an extension22 and into proximity of the liquid immersible one-way valve 15. Ifdesired one can lock the pump adaptor 21 in position through an annularstop 21 b that mechanically prevents the pump adaptor from sliding offthe pump barrel 11 and a stop 31 that mechanically prevents the pumpadaptor 15 from sliding to far over the one-way valve and thusinterfering with the operation of the one-way valve 15.

A further feature of the invention includes a field method of reducingthe inlet size of a siphon utility pump having an immersible one-wayvalve without the aid of tools by on-the-go placing a sealing surface 21a of a pump adaptor 21 into a suction sealing engagement with anexterior surface 11 a of a pump barrel 11 by radially expanding aconstricting band 25 on the adaptor to slide the sealing surface 21 apast the one-way valve 15 and into a position proximate an exteriorsurface 21 a of a pump barrel. Allowing the resilient constricting band25 to radially contract brings the constricting band into a suctionalseal with the external surface of pump barrel. One can then place anencapsulation band 24 of the pump adaptor circumferentially around thenon-immersible one-way valve 15 with a rigid frame 15 b of one-way valve15 in engagement with axial stop 31 to form a suction chamber proximatethe one-way valve 15. An extension 22 on the adaptor can then be usedfor suction of liquids therethrough. The extension may include a tubethat can be frictional secured thereto in a suction seal to prevent airleakage therepast during the operation of the utility pump.

1. A one-piece cylindrical siphon pump adaptor for reducing the externalsize of a siphon pump access inlet without decreasing a pump strokecapacity comprising: a siphon pump constricting band having an internalsealing surface for forming a radially constricting pump barrel suctionseal; a one-way valve encapsulation band having a chamber therein forextending around a one-way valve without operational interferencetherewith; and an inlet band having an opening therein for suction of aliquid therethrough.
 2. The one-piece cylindrical siphon pump adaptor ofclaim 1 wherein the constricting band is radially elasticallystretchable and the encapsulation band and the constricting band arelocated in a coaxially condition with respect to each other and aninternal diameter D₅ of the encapsulation band is larger than aninternal diameter D₄ of the constricting band.
 3. The one-piececylindrical siphon pump adaptor of claim 1 wherein the inlet band has anoutside diameter D₆ less than an internal diameter D₅ of theencapsulation band.
 4. The one-piece cylindrical siphon pump adaptor ofclaim 1 including an elongated suction tube suctionally sealed to theinlet band with the elongated tube having an outside diameter D₇ lessthan an internal diameter D₅ of the encapsulation band.
 5. The one-piececylindrical siphon pump adaptor of claim 1 including a first axial stopfor preventing axial displacement of the adaptor in a first directionand a second axial stop for preventing axial displacement of the adaptorin the opposite direction.
 6. The one-piece cylindrical siphon pumpadaptor of claim 5 wherein the constricting band has a frusto conicalouter surface; and a compression collar having an internal frustoconical surface for radially constricting the constricting band throughaxial displacement of the compression collar with respect to the frustoconical surface on the constricting band.
 7. The one-piece cylindricalsiphon pump adaptor of claim 1 wherein the adaptor comprise an elastomerand the encapsulation band is integral to the inlet band and theconstricting band.
 8. The one-piece cylindrical siphon pump adaptor ofclaim 4 wherein the elongated suction tube is suctionally sealablethrough frictional engagement with the inlet band and the inlet includesa set of buttresses for preventing suction collapse of said inlet band.9. The one-piece cylindrical siphon pump adaptor of claim 1 wherein theresilient inlet band has sufficient radially stiffness to resist suctioncollapse when a liquid is drawn therethrough.
 10. A siphon utility pumpcomprising: a pump cylinder having an inlet end and, an outlet and alumen therebetween; a plunger slideable in the lumen with the plungerhaving a one-way valve thereon for drawing liquid through the pumpcylinder; a liquid immersible one-way valve located on the inlet end ofthe pump cylinder to enable a liquid to be suctioned through the liquidimmersible one-way valve by stroking the plunger within the pumpcylinder; and an adaptor having a constricting band axially spaced fromthe inlet end with the constricting band sealingly engaging an exteriorcylindrical surface of said pump cylinder, an encapsulation band forencapsulating the liquid immersible one-way valve, an inlet bandproximate the liquid immersible one-way valve with the inlet bandincluding a passage for suctioning of fluid through the inlet band andinto proximity of the liquid immersible one-way valve.
 11. The siphonutility pump of claim 10 including a friction ring having a frustoconical inner surface for radially compressing said constricting bandinto a suction seal with the pump cylinder.
 12. The siphon utility pumpof claim 10 including a set of axial stops for preventing displacementof the pump adaptor with respect to the liquid immersible one-way valve.13. The siphon utility pump of claim 10 wherein the adaptor is one piecewith the encapsulation band and the inlet band integral to theconstriction band and the inlet band includes a suction tubefrictionally secured to said adaptor with said suction tube having anexternal diameter less than the external diameter of said liquidimmersible one-way valve.
 14. The method of converting a siphon utilitypump having an immersible one-way valve to a siphon utility pump whereinthe immersible one-way valve is remote from a liquid to be removed bythe pump comprising; placing a sealing surface of an adaptor into asuction sealing engagement with an exterior surface of a pump barrel;placing an encapsulation band of the pump adaptor circumferentiallyaround the immersible one-way valve to form a suction chamber locatedproximate the one-way valve to thereby provide normal operation of theimmersible one-way valve when the one-way valve is located above aliquid line.
 15. The method of claim 14 including the step of resilientattachment of the pump adaptor to the utility pump during field use ofthe utility pump by radially expanding a constricting band on theadaptor to axially extend the sealing surface past the immersibleone-way valve.
 16. The method of claim 14 including the step ofattaching a suction tube to an inlet extension on the pump adaptorwherein the suction tube has an outside diameter smaller than an outsidediameter of the immersible one-way valve.
 17. The method of claim 14including the step of radially compressing the constriction band byaxially sliding a collar over an exterior surface of the constrictingband.
 18. The method of claim 14 including the step of bringing an axialstop into engagement with an end frame of the one-way valve.
 19. Themethod of claim 14 including the step of applying the pump adaptor tothe pump without the aid of tools.
 20. The method of claim 14 whereinthe one-way immersible valve is located on an inlet end of the siphonutility pump and the sealing surface of the adaptor is axially spacedfrom the one-way valve.
 21. The method of claim 20 including the step ofattaching a suction tube to the adaptor when the suction tube having anoutside diameter less than an outside diameter of the immersible one-wayvalve.